Finding yourself constantly staring at blank pages, watching the text cursor blink, daring you to begin typing? These are all scenarios writers are familiar with—not knowing how to begin a story or suffering from a case of writer’s block. Below are a few good ways to get your creativity flowing and help you put words on the page. These tips can also be effective if you’re working on a project, but feel you’ve hit a wall.
Tip #1: Free Write
Continually keep typing, not allowing yourself a moment to stop, just write whatever first comes to mind. Even if the writing has nothing to do with your original topic, the act of writing can help spark your creativity. In order to get into the flow of writing, you need to write. Even when you are being your most productive, not every word or sentence is going to come out perfect. Try and tame that inner editor! You can salvage some of the material for your current project, while other times it might be the start of a new one for the future.
Tip #2: Write an Outline
This is a tried-and-true method that can be adapted to suit different kinds of writing projects from essays to short stories to memoirs. Jot down a quick outline for the section or chapter you may be working on to help you organize your thoughts. You can even outline the entire book, chapter by chapter if you want. Arranging the order of the main points can help give you a place to start, inform your writing in the middle, and allow you to keep in mind the ending you’re writing towards.
Tip #3: Stick to a Schedule
Much like setting up your internal clock for sleeping, try to mimic that with your writing schedule. Set aside an hour or two during the day to devote solely to writing. Establishing this routine will help your body and mind get used to writing during that time, helping you lessen distractions. Don’t be afraid to make your friends and family aware that those hours are allotted for writing only.
Tip #4: Have a Chat with a Friend
Find someone you can discuss your writing ideas with—it could be someone close to the topic (if your book is about family), or perhaps a close friend. Having a conversation can be more open and carefree than putting words to the page, allowing you to open up. This method has the dual effect of getting you up, moving around, and out of the house, which can be good if you feel stuck. Be sure to keep some notes to return to when you’re back at your desk.
Tip #5: Journal/Write Long-Hand
If you are like most people and write on your computer or tablet, it can be a good exercise to keep a journal and write long hand. It helps to tame that inner editor we’ve talked about above. Write in pen, so you don’t keep erasing and allow yourself to flow. When you’re stuck or really need to get going it’s an excellent exercise to try. The bonus, you’ll find out later, is that while transcribing, you can make small edits to help tighten the writing up.
Tip #6: Do Some Research
Juggling research and writing at the same time can be distracting and wear you out. Try doing as much research as possible beforehand. However, if you’ve hit a block, maybe you need to go back and research your topic for more inspiration. Not only can research inspire you, it will also better inform your writing.
Tip #7: Use Online Writing Prompts
Sometimes it’s just as simple as having someone else get your sentence started for you. Find online prompts that provide the first half of a sentence or provide a topic to write about. Then, start writing! Even if it ultimately takes you toward something you didn’t intend to write about, once you get the flow going, you can carry it over to your current project. Perhaps you could use the writing generated by the prompt for a new, future project.
Tip #8: Consider Your Audience
Think about whom you are writing the book for. It’s important to write the story the way you wish to tell it but keeping a future reader in mind can be constructive. What information might they need at that point in the story? What details do they not need? Perhaps you’re stuck on a detail that turns out to not be as important to the overall story as you thought.
Tip #9: Revisit an Old Project
If you find yourself stuck on a current book, maybe it’s time to revisit some of your older writing. Reading through a previous project with a fresh pair of eyes and seeing that accumulated work can help encourage and inspire your new project. You could also do a little tidying up or editing which could help get some creativity flowing. Just be sure to re-direct that energy toward your writing on the current story.
Conclusion – You’ve Got This!
Hitting a block in your writing or simply getting started can be a challenge, but don’t be afraid. There are a lot of different ways to kickstart your writing. While some tips work better in certain situations, all you need is a little spark to get your creativity flowing. Returning to some of these different tips can help you throughout your writing and push you toward finishing your book.
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